Encoder, decoder, encoding method, and decoding method

ABSTRACT

An encoder that encodes a current block in a picture includes circuitry and memory. Using the memory, the circuitry: splits the current block into a first sub block, a second sub block, and a third sub block in a first direction, the second sub block being located between the first sub block and the third sub block; prohibits splitting the second sub block into two partitions in the first direction; and encodes the first sub block, the second sub block, and the third sub block.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. continuation application of PCT International Patent Application Number PCT/JP2019/008468 filed on Mar. 4, 2019, claiming the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/638,620 filed on Mar. 5, 2018, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an encoder, a decoder, an encoding method, and a decoding method.

2. Description of the Related Art

The video coding standards known as High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) is standardized by the Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC).

SUMMARY

An encoder according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an encoder that encodes a current block in a picture and includes circuitry and memory. Using the memory, the circuitry: splits the current block into a first sub block, a second sub block, and a third sub block in a first direction, the second sub block being located between the first sub block and the third sub block; prohibits splitting the second sub block into two partitions in the first direction; and encodes the first sub block, the second sub block, and the third sub block.

A decoder according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a decoder that decodes a current block in an encoded picture and includes circuitry and memory. Using the memory, the circuitry: splits the current block into a first sub block, a second sub block, and a third sub block in a first direction, the second sub block being located between the first sub block and the third sub block; prohibits splitting the second sub block into two partitions in the first direction; and decodes the first sub block, the second sub block, and the third sub block.

General or specific aspects of the present disclosure may be realized as a system, method, integrated circuit, computer program, computer-readable medium such as a CD-ROM, or any given combination thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and other objects, advantages and features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that illustrate a specific embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an encoder according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 2 illustrates one example of block splitting according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 3 is a chart indicating transform basis functions for each transform type;

FIG. 4A illustrates one example of a filter shape used in ALF;

FIG. 4B illustrates another example of a filter shape used in ALF;

FIG. 4C illustrates another example of a filter shape used in ALF;

FIG. 5A illustrates 67 intra prediction modes used in intra prediction;

FIG. 5B is a flow chart for illustrating an outline of a prediction image correction process performed via OBMC processing;

FIG. 5C is a conceptual diagram for illustrating an outline of a prediction image correction process performed via OBMC processing;

FIG. 5D illustrates one example of FRUC;

FIG. 6 is for illustrating pattern matching (bilateral matching) between two blocks along a motion trajectory;

FIG. 7 is for illustrating pattern matching (template matching) between a template in the current picture and a block in a reference picture;

FIG. 8 is for illustrating a model assuming uniform linear motion;

FIG. 9A is for illustrating deriving a motion vector of each sub-block based on motion vectors of neighboring blocks;

FIG. 9B is for illustrating an outline of a process for deriving a motion vector via merge mode;

FIG. 9C is a conceptual diagram for illustrating an outline of DMVR processing;

FIG. 9D is for illustrating an outline of a prediction image generation method using a luminance correction process performed via LIC processing;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a decoder according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 11 illustrates an encoding method and an encoding process performed by an encoder according to the first aspect;

FIG. 12 illustrates that when it is determined that a first cost is lower than all of second costs, a second set of block coding processes excludes a third block coding process including a step of partitioning a block first into three smaller partitions;

FIG. 13 illustrates other examples of first costs having different binary tree depths;

FIG. 14 illustrates an encoding method and an encoding process performed by an encoder according to the second aspect;

FIG. 15 illustrates that when it is determined that any one of first costs is lower than all of second costs, a block coding process is selected from a second set of block coding processes;

FIG. 16 illustrates an encoding method and an encoding process performed by an encoder according to the third aspect;

FIG. 17 illustrates that when a vertical gradient of a rectangular block whose height is greater than its width is greater than its horizontal or diagonal gradient, a second set of block coding processes excludes a first block coding process including a step of partitioning a block first into three smaller partitions in a vertical direction;

FIG. 18 illustrates that when a vertical gradient of a rectangular block whose width is greater than its height is greater than its horizontal or diagonal gradient, a second set of block coding processes excludes a first block coding process including a step of partitioning a block first into three smaller partitions in a horizontal direction;

FIG. 19A illustrates an example of calculation of a change in pixel intensity in a horizontal direction;

FIG. 19B illustrates an example of the calculation of a change in pixel intensity in the horizontal direction;

FIG. 20 illustrates an encoding method and an encoding process performed by an encoder according to the fourth aspect;

FIG. 21 illustrates case (a) in which when a block coding process generates an area of a sub partition which is half the area of a block and a horizontal gradient is greater than a vertical gradient, a block coding process is selected from the second set of block coding processes, and case (b) in which when a block coding process generates an area of a sub partition which is half the area of a block and a vertical gradient is greater than a horizontal gradient, a block coding process is selected from the second set of block coding processes;

FIG. 22 illustrates an encoding method and an encoding process performed by an encoder according to the fifth aspect;

FIG. 23A illustrates an example of splitting a 16×8 block into three smaller partitions in a direction parallel to the height of the 16×8 block when transform is not implemented for 16×2;

FIG. 23B illustrates an example of splitting a 16×8 block into four smaller partitions in a direction parallel to the height of the 16×8 block when transform is not implemented for 16×2;

FIG. 24 illustrates an encoding method and an encoding process performed by an encoder according to the sixth aspect;

FIG. 25A illustrates examples of a candidate for a partition structure for splitting a 16×16 block;

FIG. 25B illustrates examples of a candidate for a partition structure for splitting an 8×8 block;

FIG. 26 illustrates an encoding method and an encoding process performed by an encoder according to the seventh aspect;

FIG. 27 illustrates an example of ways to split a 32×32 block first into three sub blocks, then the largest sub block into two partitions;

FIG. 28 illustrates an encoding method and an encoding process performed by an encoder according to the eighth aspect;

FIG. 29 illustrates an example of splitting a 64×64 block first into three sub blocks, then each of the sub blocks into two partitions;

FIG. 30 illustrates examples of split modes and split directions for splitting a block into two or three partitions;

FIG. 31 illustrates examples of locations of parameters in a bitstream;

FIG. 32 illustrates an overall configuration of a content providing system for implementing a content distribution service;

FIG. 33 illustrates one example of an encoding structure in scalable encoding;

FIG. 34 illustrates one example of an encoding structure in scalable encoding;

FIG. 35 illustrates an example of a display screen of a web page;

FIG. 36 illustrates an example of a display screen of a web page;

FIG. 37 illustrates one example of a smartphone; and

FIG. 38 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a smartphone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

Note that the embodiments described below each show a general or specific example. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, the arrangement and connection of the components, steps, order of the steps, etc. that are indicated in the following embodiments are mere examples, and therefore are not intended to limit the scope of the claims Therefore, among the components in the following embodiments, those not recited in any of the independent claims defining the broadest inventive concepts are described as optional components.

Embodiment 1

First, an outline of Embodiment 1 will be presented. Embodiment 1 is one example of an encoder and a decoder to which the processes and/or configurations presented in subsequent description of aspects of the present disclosure are applicable. Note that Embodiment 1 is merely one example of an encoder and a decoder to which the processes and/or configurations presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure are applicable. The processes and/or configurations presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure can also be implemented in an encoder and a decoder different from those according to Embodiment 1.

When the processes and/or configurations presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure are applied to Embodiment 1, for example, any of the following may be performed.

(1) regarding the encoder or the decoder according to Embodiment 1, among components included in the encoder or the decoder according to Embodiment 1, substituting a component corresponding to a component presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure with a component presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure;

(2) regarding the encoder or the decoder according to Embodiment 1, implementing discretionary changes to functions or implemented processes performed by one or more components included in the encoder or the decoder according to Embodiment 1, such as addition, substitution, or removal, etc., of such functions or implemented processes, then substituting a component corresponding to a component presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure with a component presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure;

(3) regarding the method implemented by the encoder or the decoder according to Embodiment 1, implementing discretionary changes such as addition of processes and/or substitution, removal of one or more of the processes included in the method, and then substituting a process corresponding to a process presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure with a process presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure;

(4) combining one or more components included in the encoder or the decoder according to Embodiment 1 with a component presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure, a component including one or more functions included in a component presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure, or a component that implements one or more processes implemented by a component presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure;

(5) combining a component including one or more functions included in one or more components included in the encoder or the decoder according to Embodiment 1, or a component that implements one or more processes implemented by one or more components included in the encoder or the decoder according to Embodiment 1 with a component presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure, a component including one or more functions included in a component presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure, or a component that implements one or more processes implemented by a component presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure;

(6) regarding the method implemented by the encoder or the decoder according to Embodiment 1, among processes included in the method, substituting a process corresponding to a process presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure with a process presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure; and

(7) combining one or more processes included in the method implemented by the encoder or the decoder according to Embodiment 1 with a process presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure.

Note that the implementation of the processes and/or configurations presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure is not limited to the above examples. For example, the processes and/or configurations presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented in a device used for a purpose different from the moving picture/picture encoder or the moving picture/picture decoder disclosed in Embodiment 1. Moreover, the processes and/or configurations presented in the description of aspects of the present disclosure may be independently implemented. Moreover, processes and/or configurations described in different aspects may be combined.

[Encoder Outline]

First, the encoder according to Embodiment 1 will be outlined. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of encoder 100 according to Embodiment 1. Encoder 100 is a moving picture/picture encoder that encodes a moving picture/picture block by block.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, encoder 100 is a device that encodes a picture block by block, and includes splitter 102, subtractor 104, transformer 106, quantizer 108, entropy encoder 110, inverse quantizer 112, inverse transformer 114, adder 116, block memory 118, loop filter 120, frame memory 122, intra predictor 124, inter predictor 126, and prediction controller 128.

Encoder 100 is realized as, for example, a generic processor and memory. In this case, when a software program stored in the memory is executed by the processor, the processor functions as splitter 102, subtractor 104, transformer 106, quantizer 108, entropy encoder 110, inverse quantizer 112, inverse transformer 114, adder 116, loop filter 120, intra predictor 124, inter predictor 126, and prediction controller 128. Alternatively, encoder 100 may be realized as one or more dedicated electronic circuits corresponding to splitter 102, subtractor 104, transformer 106, quantizer 108, entropy encoder 110, inverse quantizer 112, inverse transformer 114, adder 116, loop filter 120, intra predictor 124, inter predictor 126, and prediction controller 128.

Hereinafter, each component included in encoder 100 will be described.

[Splitter]

Splitter 102 splits each picture included in an input moving picture into blocks, and outputs each block to subtractor 104. For example, splitter 102 first splits a picture into blocks of a fixed size (for example, 128×128). The fixed size block is also referred to as coding tree unit (CTU). Splitter 102 then splits each fixed size block into blocks of variable sizes (for example, 64×64 or smaller), based on recursive quadtree and/or binary tree block splitting. The variable size block is also referred to as a coding unit (CU), a prediction unit (PU), or a transform unit (TU). Note that in this embodiment, there is no need to differentiate between CU, PU, and TU; all or some of the blocks in a picture may be processed per CU, PU, or TU.

FIG. 2 illustrates one example of block splitting according to Embodiment 1. In FIG. 2, the solid lines represent block boundaries of blocks split by quadtree block splitting, and the dashed lines represent block boundaries of blocks split by binary tree block splitting.

Here, block 10 is a square 128×128 pixel block (128×128 block). This 128×128 block 10 is first split into four square 64×64 blocks (quadtree block splitting).

The top left 64×64 block is further vertically split into two rectangle 32×64 blocks, and the left 32×64 block is further vertically split into two rectangle 16×64 blocks (binary tree block splitting). As a result, the top left 64×64 block is split into two 16×64 blocks 11 and 12 and one 32×64 block 13.

The top right 64×64 block is horizontally split into two rectangle 64×32 blocks 14 and 15 (binary tree block splitting).

The bottom left 64×64 block is first split into four square 32×32 blocks (quadtree block splitting). The top left block and the bottom right block among the four 32×32 blocks are further split. The top left 32×32 block is vertically split into two rectangle 16×32 blocks, and the right 16×32 block is further horizontally split into two 16×16 blocks (binary tree block splitting). The bottom right 32×32 block is horizontally split into two 32×16 blocks (binary tree block splitting). As a result, the bottom left 64×64 block is split into 16×32 block 16, two 16×16 blocks 17 and 18, two 32×32 blocks 19 and 20, and two 32×16 blocks 21 and 22.

The bottom right 64×64 block 23 is not split.

As described above, in FIG. 2, block 10 is split into 13 variable size blocks 11 through 23 based on recursive quadtree and binary tree block splitting. This type of splitting is also referred to as quadtree plus binary tree (QTBT) splitting.

Note that in FIG. 2, one block is split into four or two blocks (quadtree or binary tree block splitting), but splitting is not limited to this example. For example, one block may be split into three blocks (ternary block splitting). Splitting including such ternary block splitting is also referred to as multi-type tree (MBT) splitting.

[Subtractor]

Subtractor 104 subtracts a prediction signal (prediction sample) from an original signal (original sample) per block split by splitter 102. In other words, subtractor 104 calculates prediction errors (also referred to as residuals) of a block to be encoded (hereinafter referred to as a current block). Subtractor 104 then outputs the calculated prediction errors to transformer 106.

The original signal is a signal input into encoder 100, and is a signal representing an image for each picture included in a moving picture (for example, a luma signal and two chroma signals). Hereinafter, a signal representing an image is also referred to as a sample.

[Transformer]

Transformer 106 transforms spatial domain prediction errors into frequency domain transform coefficients, and outputs the transform coefficients to quantizer 108. More specifically, transformer 106 applies, for example, a predefined discrete cosine transform (DCT) or discrete sine transform (DST) to spatial domain prediction errors.

Note that transformer 106 may adaptively select a transform type from among a plurality of transform types, and transform prediction errors into transform coefficients by using a transform basis function corresponding to the selected transform type. This sort of transform is also referred to as explicit multiple core transform (EMT) or adaptive multiple transform (AMT).

The transform types include, for example, DCT-II, DCT-V, DCT-VIII, DST-I, and DST-VII. FIG. 3 is a chart indicating transform basis functions for each transform type. In FIG. 3, N indicates the number of input pixels. For example, selection of a transform type from among the plurality of transform types may depend on the prediction type (intra prediction and inter prediction), and may depend on intra prediction mode.

Information indicating whether to apply such EMT or AMT (referred to as, for example, an AMT flag) and information indicating the selected transform type is signalled at the CU level. Note that the signaling of such information need not be performed at the CU level, and may be performed at another level (for example, at the sequence level, picture level, slice level, tile level, or CTU level).

Moreover, transformer 106 may apply a secondary transform to the transform coefficients (transform result). Such a secondary transform is also referred to as adaptive secondary transform (AST) or non-separable secondary transform (NSST). For example, transformer 106 applies a secondary transform to each sub-block (for example, each 4×4 sub-block) included in the block of the transform coefficients corresponding to the intra prediction errors. Information indicating whether to apply NSST and information related to the transform matrix used in NSST are signalled at the CU level. Note that the signaling of such information need not be performed at the CU level, and may be performed at another level (for example, at the sequence level, picture level, slice level, tile level, or CTU level).

Here, a separable transform is a method in which a transform is performed a plurality of times by separately performing a transform for each direction according to the number of dimensions input. A non-separable transform is a method of performing a collective transform in which two or more dimensions in a multidimensional input are collectively regarded as a single dimension.

In one example of a non-separable transform, when the input is a 4×4 block, the 4×4 block is regarded as a single array including 16 components, and the transform applies a 16×16 transform matrix to the array.

Moreover, similar to above, after an input 4×4 block is regarded as a single array including 16 components, a transform that performs a plurality of Givens rotations on the array (i.e., a Hypercube-Givens Transform) is also one example of a non-separable transform.

[Quantizer]

Quantizer 108 quantizes the transform coefficients output from transformer 106. More specifically, quantizer 108 scans, in a predetermined scanning order, the transform coefficients of the current block, and quantizes the scanned transform coefficients based on quantization parameters (QP) corresponding to the transform coefficients. Quantizer 108 then outputs the quantized transform coefficients (hereinafter referred to as quantized coefficients) of the current block to entropy encoder 110 and inverse quantizer 112.

A predetermined order is an order for quantizing/inverse quantizing transform coefficients. For example, a predetermined scanning order is defined as ascending order of frequency (from low to high frequency) or descending order of frequency (from high to low frequency).

A quantization parameter is a parameter defining a quantization step size (quantization width). For example, if the value of the quantization parameter increases, the quantization step size also increases. In other words, if the value of the quantization parameter increases, the quantization error increases.

[Entropy Encoder]

Entropy encoder 110 generates an encoded signal (encoded bitstream) by variable length encoding quantized coefficients, which are inputs from quantizer 108. More specifically, entropy encoder 110, for example, binarizes quantized coefficients and arithmetic encodes the binary signal.

[Inverse Quantizer]

Inverse quantizer 112 inverse quantizes quantized coefficients, which are inputs from quantizer 108. More specifically, inverse quantizer 112 inverse quantizes, in a predetermined scanning order, quantized coefficients of the current block. Inverse quantizer 112 then outputs the inverse quantized transform coefficients of the current block to inverse transformer 114.

[Inverse Transformer]

Inverse transformer 114 restores prediction errors by inverse transforming transform coefficients, which are inputs from inverse quantizer 112. More specifically, inverse transformer 114 restores the prediction errors of the current block by applying an inverse transform corresponding to the transform applied by transformer 106 on the transform coefficients. Inverse transformer 114 then outputs the restored prediction errors to adder 116.

Note that since information is lost in quantization, the restored prediction errors do not match the prediction errors calculated by subtractor 104. In other words, the restored prediction errors include quantization errors.

[Adder]

Adder 116 reconstructs the current block by summing prediction errors, which are inputs from inverse transformer 114, and prediction samples, which are inputs from prediction controller 128. Adder 116 then outputs the reconstructed block to block memory 118 and loop filter 120. A reconstructed block is also referred to as a local decoded block.

[Block Memory]

Block memory 118 is storage for storing blocks in a picture to be encoded (hereinafter referred to as a current picture) for reference in intra prediction. More specifically, block memory 118 stores reconstructed blocks output from adder 116.

[Loop Filter]

Loop filter 120 applies a loop filter to blocks reconstructed by adder 116, and outputs the filtered reconstructed blocks to frame memory 122. A loop filter is a filter used in an encoding loop (in-loop filter), and includes, for example, a deblocking filter (DF), a sample adaptive offset (SAO), and an adaptive loop filter (ALF).

In ALF, a least square error filter for removing compression artifacts is applied. For example, one filter from among a plurality of filters is selected for each 2×2 sub-block in the current block based on direction and activity of local gradients, and is applied.

More specifically, first, each sub-block (for example, each 2×2 sub-block) is categorized into one out of a plurality of classes (for example, 15 or 25 classes). The classification of the sub-block is based on gradient directionality and activity. For example, classification index C is derived based on gradient directionality D (for example, 0 to 2 or 0 to 4) and gradient activity A (for example, 0 to 4) (for example, C=5D+A). Then, based on classification index C, each sub-block is categorized into one out of a plurality of classes (for example, 15 or 25 classes).

For example, gradient directionality D is calculated by comparing gradients of a plurality of directions (for example, the horizontal, vertical, and two diagonal directions). Moreover, for example, gradient activity A is calculated by summing gradients of a plurality of directions and quantizing the sum.

The filter to be used for each sub-block is determined from among the plurality of filters based on the result of such categorization.

The filter shape to be used in ALF is, for example, a circular symmetric filter shape. FIG. 4A through FIG. 4C illustrate examples of filter shapes used in ALF. FIG. 4A illustrates a 5×5 diamond shape filter, FIG. 4B illustrates a 7×7 diamond shape filter, and FIG. 4C illustrates a 9×9 diamond shape filter. Information indicating the filter shape is signalled at the picture level. Note that the signaling of information indicating the filter shape need not be performed at the picture level, and may be performed at another level (for example, at the sequence level, slice level, tile level, CTU level, or CU level).

The enabling or disabling of ALF is determined at the picture level or CU level. For example, for luma, the decision to apply ALF or not is done at the CU level, and for chroma, the decision to apply ALF or not is done at the picture level. Information indicating whether ALF is enabled or disabled is signalled at the picture level or CU level. Note that the signaling of information indicating whether ALF is enabled or disabled need not be performed at the picture level or CU level, and may be performed at another level (for example, at the sequence level, slice level, tile level, or CTU level).

The coefficients set for the plurality of selectable filters (for example, 15 or 25 filters) is signalled at the picture level. Note that the signaling of the coefficients set need not be performed at the picture level, and may be performed at another level (for example, at the sequence level, slice level, tile level, CTU level, CU level, or sub-block level).

[Frame Memory]

Frame memory 122 is storage for storing reference pictures used in inter prediction, and is also referred to as a frame buffer. More specifically, frame memory 122 stores reconstructed blocks filtered by loop filter 120.

[Intra Predictor]

Intra predictor 124 generates a prediction signal (intra prediction signal) by intra predicting the current block with reference to a block or blocks in the current picture and stored in block memory 118 (also referred to as intra frame prediction). More specifically, intra predictor 124 generates an intra prediction signal by intra prediction with reference to samples (for example, luma and/or chroma values) of a block or blocks neighboring the current block, and then outputs the intra prediction signal to prediction controller 128.

For example, intra predictor 124 performs intra prediction by using one mode from among a plurality of predefined intra prediction modes. The intra prediction modes include one or more non-directional prediction modes and a plurality of directional prediction modes.

The one or more non-directional prediction modes include, for example, planar prediction mode and DC prediction mode defined in the H.265/high-efficiency video coding (HEVC) standard (see H.265 (ISO/IEC 23008-2 HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding)) (Non-patent Literature (NPL) 1).

The plurality of directional prediction modes include, for example, the 33 directional prediction modes defined in the H.265/HEVC standard. Note that the plurality of directional prediction modes may further include 32 directional prediction modes in addition to the 33 directional prediction modes (for a total of 65 directional prediction modes). FIG. 5A illustrates 67 intra prediction modes used in intra prediction (two non-directional prediction modes and 65 directional prediction modes). The solid arrows represent the 33 directions defined in the H.265/HEVC standard, and the dashed arrows represent the additional 32 directions.

Note that a luma block may be referenced in chroma block intra prediction. In other words, a chroma component of the current block may be predicted based on a luma component of the current block. Such intra prediction is also referred to as cross-component linear model (CCLM) prediction. Such a chroma block intra prediction mode that references a luma block (referred to as, for example, CCLM mode) may be added as one of the chroma block intra prediction modes.

Intra predictor 124 may correct post-intra-prediction pixel values based on horizontal/vertical reference pixel gradients. Intra prediction accompanied by this sort of correcting is also referred to as position dependent intra prediction combination (PDPC). Information indicating whether to apply PDPC or not (referred to as, for example, a PDPC flag) is, for example, signalled at the CU level. Note that the signaling of this information need not be performed at the CU level, and may be performed at another level (for example, at the sequence level, picture level, slice level, tile level, or CTU level).

[Inter Predictor]

Inter predictor 126 generates a prediction signal (inter prediction signal) by inter predicting the current block with reference to a block or blocks in a reference picture, which is different from the current picture and is stored in frame memory 122 (also referred to as inter frame prediction). Inter prediction is performed per current block or per sub-block (for example, per 4×4 block) in the current block. For example, inter predictor 126 performs motion estimation in a reference picture for the current block or sub-block. Inter predictor 126 then generates an inter prediction signal of the current block or sub-block by motion compensation by using motion information (for example, a motion vector) obtained from motion estimation. Inter predictor 126 then outputs the generated inter prediction signal to prediction controller 128.

The motion information used in motion compensation is signalled. A motion vector predictor may be used for the signaling of the motion vector. In other words, the difference between the motion vector and the motion vector predictor may be signalled.

Note that the inter prediction signal may be generated using motion information for a neighboring block in addition to motion information for the current block obtained from motion estimation. More specifically, the inter prediction signal may be generated per sub-block in the current block by calculating a weighted sum of a prediction signal based on motion information obtained from motion estimation and a prediction signal based on motion information for a neighboring block. Such inter prediction (motion compensation) is also referred to as overlapped block motion compensation (OBMC).

In such an OBMC mode, information indicating sub-block size for OBMC (referred to as, for example, OBMC block size) is signalled at the sequence level. Moreover, information indicating whether to apply the OBMC mode or not (referred to as, for example, an OBMC flag) is signalled at the CU level. Note that the signaling of such information need not be performed at the sequence level and CU level, and may be performed at another level (for example, at the picture level, slice level, tile level, CTU level, or sub-block level).

Hereinafter, the OBMC mode will be described in further detail. FIG. 5B is a flowchart and FIG. 5C is a conceptual diagram for illustrating an outline of a prediction image correction process performed via OBMC processing.

First, a prediction image (Pred) is obtained through typical motion compensation using a motion vector (MV) assigned to the current block.

Next, a prediction image (Pred_L) is obtained by applying a motion vector (MV_L) of the encoded neighboring left block to the current block, and a first pass of the correction of the prediction image is made by superimposing the prediction image and Pred_L.

Similarly, a prediction image (Pred_U) is obtained by applying a motion vector (MV_U) of the encoded neighboring upper block to the current block, and a second pass of the correction of the prediction image is made by superimposing the prediction image resulting from the first pass and Pred_U. The result of the second pass is the final prediction image.

Note that the above example is of a two-pass correction method using the neighboring left and upper blocks, but the method may be a three-pass or higher correction method that also uses the neighboring right and/or lower block.

Note that the region subjected to superimposition may be the entire pixel region of the block, and, alternatively, may be a partial block boundary region.

Note that here, the prediction image correction process is described as being based on a single reference picture, but the same applies when a prediction image is corrected based on a plurality of reference pictures. In such a case, after corrected prediction images resulting from performing correction based on each of the reference pictures are obtained, the obtained corrected prediction images are further superimposed to obtain the final prediction image.

Note that the unit of the current block may be a prediction block and, alternatively, may be a sub-block obtained by further dividing the prediction block.

One example of a method for determining whether to implement OBMC processing is by using an obmc_flag, which is a signal that indicates whether to implement OBMC processing. As one specific example, the encoder determines whether the current block belongs to a region including complicated motion. The encoder sets the obmc_flag to a value of “1” when the block belongs to a region including complicated motion and implements OBMC processing when encoding, and sets the obmc_flag to a value of “0” when the block does not belong to a region including complication motion and encodes without implementing OBMC processing. The decoder switches between implementing OBMC processing or not by decoding the obmc_flag written in the stream and performing the decoding in accordance with the flag value.

Note that the motion information may be derived on the decoder side without being signalled. For example, a merge mode defined in the H.265/HEVC standard may be used. Moreover, for example, the motion information may be derived by performing motion estimation on the decoder side. In this case, motion estimation is performed without using the pixel values of the current block.

Here, a mode for performing motion estimation on the decoder side will be described. A mode for performing motion estimation on the decoder side is also referred to as pattern matched motion vector derivation (PMMVD) mode or frame rate up-conversion (FRUC) mode.

One example of FRUC processing is illustrated in FIG. 5D. First, a candidate list (a candidate list may be a merge list) of candidates each including a motion vector predictor is generated with reference to motion vectors of encoded blocks that spatially or temporally neighbor the current block. Next, the best candidate MV is selected from among a plurality of candidate MVs registered in the candidate list. For example, evaluation values for the candidates included in the candidate list are calculated and one candidate is selected based on the calculated evaluation values.

Next, a motion vector for the current block is derived from the motion vector of the selected candidate. More specifically, for example, the motion vector for the current block is calculated as the motion vector of the selected candidate (best candidate MV), as-is. Alternatively, the motion vector for the current block may be derived by pattern matching performed in the vicinity of a position in a reference picture corresponding to the motion vector of the selected candidate. In other words, when the vicinity of the best candidate MV is searched via the same method and an MV having a better evaluation value is found, the best candidate MV may be updated to the MV having the better evaluation value, and the MV having the better evaluation value may be used as the final MV for the current block. Note that a configuration in which this processing is not implemented is also acceptable.

The same processes may be performed in cases in which the processing is performed in units of sub-blocks.

Note that an evaluation value is calculated by calculating the difference in the reconstructed image by pattern matching performed between a region in a reference picture corresponding to a motion vector and a predetermined region. Note that the evaluation value may be calculated by using some other information in addition to the difference.

The pattern matching used is either first pattern matching or second pattern matching. First pattern matching and second pattern matching are also referred to as bilateral matching and template matching, respectively.

In the first pattern matching, pattern matching is performed between two blocks along the motion trajectory of the current block in two different reference pictures. Therefore, in the first pattern matching, a region in another reference picture conforming to the motion trajectory of the current block is used as the predetermined region for the above-described calculation of the candidate evaluation value.

FIG. 6 is for illustrating one example of pattern matching (bilateral matching) between two blocks along a motion trajectory. As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the first pattern matching, two motion vectors (MV0, MV1) are derived by finding the best match between two blocks along the motion trajectory of the current block (Cur block) in two different reference pictures (Ref0, Ref1). More specifically, a difference between (i) a reconstructed image in a specified position in a first encoded reference picture (Ref0) specified by a candidate MV and (ii) a reconstructed picture in a specified position in a second encoded reference picture (Ref1) specified by a symmetrical MV scaled at a display time interval of the candidate MV may be derived, and the evaluation value for the current block may be calculated by using the derived difference. The candidate MV having the best evaluation value among the plurality of candidate MVs may be selected as the final MV.

Under the assumption of continuous motion trajectory, the motion vectors (MV0, MV1) pointing to the two reference blocks shall be proportional to the temporal distances (TD0, TD1) between the current picture (Cur Pic) and the two reference pictures (Ref0, Ref1). For example, when the current picture is temporally between the two reference pictures and the temporal distance from the current picture to the two reference pictures is the same, the first pattern matching derives a mirror based bi-directional motion vector.

In the second pattern matching, pattern matching is performed between a template in the current picture (blocks neighboring the current block in the current picture (for example, the top and/or left neighboring blocks)) and a block in a reference picture. Therefore, in the second pattern matching, a block neighboring the current block in the current picture is used as the predetermined region for the above-described calculation of the candidate evaluation value.

FIG. 7 is for illustrating one example of pattern matching (template matching) between a template in the current picture and a block in a reference picture. As illustrated in FIG. 7, in the second pattern matching, a motion vector of the current block is derived by searching a reference picture (Ref0) to find the block that best matches neighboring blocks of the current block (Cur block) in the current picture (Cur Pic). More specifically, a difference between (i) a reconstructed image of an encoded region that is both or one of the neighboring left and neighboring upper regions and (ii) a reconstructed picture in the same position in an encoded reference picture (Ref0) specified by a candidate MV may be derived, and the evaluation value for the current block may be calculated by using the derived difference. The candidate MV having the best evaluation value among the plurality of candidate MVs may be selected as the best candidate MV.

Information indicating whether to apply the FRUC mode or not (referred to as, for example, a FRUC flag) is signalled at the CU level. Moreover, when the FRUC mode is applied (for example, when the FRUC flag is set to true), information indicating the pattern matching method (first pattern matching or second pattern matching) is signalled at the CU level. Note that the signaling of such information need not be performed at the CU level, and may be performed at another level (for example, at the sequence level, picture level, slice level, tile level, CTU level, or sub-block level).

Here, a mode for deriving a motion vector based on a model assuming uniform linear motion will be described. This mode is also referred to as a bi-directional optical flow (BIO) mode.

FIG. 8 is for illustrating a model assuming uniform linear motion. In FIG. 8, (v_(x), v_(y)) denotes a velocity vector, and τ₀ and τ₁ denote temporal distances between the current picture (Cur Pic) and two reference pictures (Ref₀, Ref₁). (MVx₀, MVy₁) denotes a motion vector corresponding to reference picture Ref₀, and (MVx₀, MVy₁) denotes a motion vector corresponding to reference picture Ref₁.

Here, under the assumption of uniform linear motion exhibited by velocity vector (v_(x), v_(y)), (MVx₀, MVy₀) and (MVx₁, MVy₁) are represented as (v_(x)τ₀, v_(y)τ₀) and (−v_(x)τ₁, −v_(y)τ₁), respectively, and the following optical flow equation is given.

MATH. 1

∂I ^((k)) /∂t+v _(x) ∂I ^((k)) /∂x+v _(y) ∂I ^((k)) /∂y=0.  (1)

Here, I^((k)) denotes a luma value from reference picture k (k=0, 1) after motion compensation. This optical flow equation shows that the sum of (i) the time derivative of the luma value, (ii) the product of the horizontal velocity and the horizontal component of the spatial gradient of a reference picture, and (iii) the product of the vertical velocity and the vertical component of the spatial gradient of a reference picture is equal to zero. A motion vector of each block obtained from, for example, a merge list is corrected pixel by pixel based on a combination of the optical flow equation and Hermite interpolation.

Note that a motion vector may be derived on the decoder side using a method other than deriving a motion vector based on a model assuming uniform linear motion. For example, a motion vector may be derived for each sub-block based on motion vectors of neighboring blocks.

Here, a mode in which a motion vector is derived for each sub-block based on motion vectors of neighboring blocks will be described. This mode is also referred to as affine motion compensation prediction mode.

FIG. 9A is for illustrating deriving a motion vector of each sub-block based on motion vectors of neighboring blocks. In FIG. 9A, the current block includes 16 4×4 sub-blocks. Here, motion vector v₀ of the top left corner control point in the current block is derived based on motion vectors of neighboring sub-blocks, and motion vector v₁ of the top right corner control point in the current block is derived based on motion vectors of neighboring blocks. Then, using the two motion vectors v₀ and v₁, the motion vector (v_(x), v_(y)) of each sub-block in the current block is derived using Equation 2 below.

MATH. 2

$\begin{matrix} \left\{ \begin{matrix} {v_{x} = {{\frac{\left( {v_{1x} - v_{0x}} \right)}{w}x} - {\frac{\left( {v_{1y} - v_{0y}} \right)}{w}y} + v_{0x}}} \\ {v_{y} = {{\frac{\left( {v_{1y} - v_{0y}} \right)}{w}x} + {\frac{\left( {v_{1x} - v_{0x}} \right)}{w}y} + v_{0y}}} \end{matrix} \right. & (2) \end{matrix}$

Here, x and y are the horizontal and vertical positions of the sub-block, respectively, and w is a predetermined weighted coefficient.

Such an affine motion compensation prediction mode may include a number of modes of different methods of deriving the motion vectors of the top left and top right corner control points. Information indicating such an affine motion compensation prediction mode (referred to as, for example, an affine flag) is signalled at the CU level. Note that the signaling of information indicating the affine motion compensation prediction mode need not be performed at the CU level, and may be performed at another level (for example, at the sequence level, picture level, slice level, tile level, CTU level, or sub-block level).

[Prediction Controller]

Prediction controller 128 selects either the intra prediction signal or the inter prediction signal, and outputs the selected prediction signal to subtractor 104 and adder 116.

Here, an example of deriving a motion vector via merge mode in a current picture will be given. FIG. 9B is for illustrating an outline of a process for deriving a motion vector via merge mode.

First, an MV predictor list in which candidate MV predictors are registered is generated. Examples of candidate MV predictors include: spatially neighboring MV predictors, which are MVs of encoded blocks positioned in the spatial vicinity of the current block; a temporally neighboring MV predictor, which is an MV of a block in an encoded reference picture that neighbors a block in the same location as the current block; a combined MV predictor, which is an MV generated by combining the MV values of the spatially neighboring MV predictor and the temporally neighboring MV predictor; and a zero MV predictor, which is an MV whose value is zero.

Next, the MV of the current block is determined by selecting one MV predictor from among the plurality of MV predictors registered in the MV predictor list.

Furthermore, in the variable-length encoder, a merge_idx, which is a signal indicating which MV predictor is selected, is written and encoded into the stream.

Note that the MV predictors registered in the MV predictor list illustrated in FIG. 9B constitute one example. The number of MV predictors registered in the MV predictor list may be different from the number illustrated in FIG. 9B, the MV predictors registered in the MV predictor list may omit one or more of the types of MV predictors given in the example in FIG. 9B, and the MV predictors registered in the MV predictor list may include one or more types of MV predictors in addition to and different from the types given in the example in FIG. 9B.

Note that the final MV may be determined by performing DMVR processing (to be described later) by using the MV of the current block derived via merge mode.

Here, an example of determining an MV by using DMVR processing will be given.

FIG. 9C is a conceptual diagram for illustrating an outline of DMVR processing.

First, the most appropriate MVP set for the current block is considered to be the candidate MV, reference pixels are obtained from a first reference picture, which is a picture processed in the L0 direction in accordance with the candidate MV, and a second reference picture, which is a picture processed in the L1 direction in accordance with the candidate MV, and a template is generated by calculating the average of the reference pixels.

Next, using the template, the surrounding regions of the candidate MVs of the first and second reference pictures are searched, and the MV with the lowest cost is determined to be the final MV. Note that the cost value is calculated using, for example, the difference between each pixel value in the template and each pixel value in the regions searched, as well as the MV value.

Note that the outlines of the processes described here are fundamentally the same in both the encoder and the decoder.

Note that processing other than the processing exactly as described above may be used, so long as the processing is capable of deriving the final MV by searching the surroundings of the candidate MV.

Here, an example of a mode that generates a prediction image by using LIC processing will be given.

FIG. 9D is for illustrating an outline of a prediction image generation method using a luminance correction process performed via LIC processing.

First, an MV is extracted for obtaining, from an encoded reference picture, a reference image corresponding to the current block.

Next, information indicating how the luminance value changed between the reference picture and the current picture is extracted and a luminance correction parameter is calculated by using the luminance pixel values for the encoded left neighboring reference region and the encoded upper neighboring reference region, and the luminance pixel value in the same location in the reference picture specified by the MV.

The prediction image for the current block is generated by performing a luminance correction process by using the luminance correction parameter on the reference image in the reference picture specified by the MV.

Note that the shape of the surrounding reference region illustrated in FIG. 9D is just one example; the surrounding reference region may have a different shape.

Moreover, although a prediction image is generated from a single reference picture in this example, in cases in which a prediction image is generated from a plurality of reference pictures as well, the prediction image is generated after performing a luminance correction process, via the same method, on the reference images obtained from the reference pictures.

One example of a method for determining whether to implement LIC processing is by using an lic_flag, which is a signal that indicates whether to implement LIC processing. As one specific example, the encoder determines whether the current block belongs to a region of luminance change. The encoder sets the lic_flag to a value of “1” when the block belongs to a region of luminance change and implements LIC processing when encoding, and sets the lic_flag to a value of “0” when the block does not belong to a region of luminance change and encodes without implementing LIC processing. The decoder switches between implementing LIC processing or not by decoding the lic_flag written in the stream and performing the decoding in accordance with the flag value.

One example of a different method of determining whether to implement LIC processing is determining so in accordance with whether LIC processing was determined to be implemented for a surrounding block. In one specific example, when merge mode is used on the current block, whether LIC processing was applied in the encoding of the surrounding encoded block selected upon deriving the MV in the merge mode processing may be determined, and whether to implement LIC processing or not can be switched based on the result of the determination. Note that in this example, the same applies to the processing performed on the decoder side.

[Decoder Outline]

Next, a decoder capable of decoding an encoded signal (encoded bitstream) output from encoder 100 will be described. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of decoder 200 according to Embodiment 1. Decoder 200 is a moving picture/picture decoder that decodes a moving picture/picture block by block.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, decoder 200 includes entropy decoder 202, inverse quantizer 204, inverse transformer 206, adder 208, block memory 210, loop filter 212, frame memory 214, intra predictor 216, inter predictor 218, and prediction controller 220.

Decoder 200 is realized as, for example, a generic processor and memory. In this case, when a software program stored in the memory is executed by the processor, the processor functions as entropy decoder 202, inverse quantizer 204, inverse transformer 206, adder 208, loop filter 212, intra predictor 216, inter predictor 218, and prediction controller 220. Alternatively, decoder 200 may be realized as one or more dedicated electronic circuits corresponding to entropy decoder 202, inverse quantizer 204, inverse transformer 206, adder 208, loop filter 212, intra predictor 216, inter predictor 218, and prediction controller 220.

Hereinafter, each component included in decoder 200 will be described.

[Entropy Decoder]

Entropy decoder 202 entropy decodes an encoded bitstream. More specifically, for example, entropy decoder 202 arithmetic decodes an encoded bitstream into a binary signal. Entropy decoder 202 then debinarizes the binary signal. With this, entropy decoder 202 outputs quantized coefficients of each block to inverse quantizer 204.

[Inverse Quantizer]

Inverse quantizer 204 inverse quantizes quantized coefficients of a block to be decoded (hereinafter referred to as a current block), which are inputs from entropy decoder 202. More specifically, inverse quantizer 204 inverse quantizes quantized coefficients of the current block based on quantization parameters corresponding to the quantized coefficients. Inverse quantizer 204 then outputs the inverse quantized coefficients (i.e., transform coefficients) of the current block to inverse transformer 206.

[Inverse Transformer]

Inverse transformer 206 restores prediction errors by inverse transforming transform coefficients, which are inputs from inverse quantizer 204.

For example, when information parsed from an encoded bitstream indicates application of EMT or AMT (for example, when the AMT flag is set to true), inverse transformer 206 inverse transforms the transform coefficients of the current block based on information indicating the parsed transform type.

Moreover, for example, when information parsed from an encoded bitstream indicates application of NSST, inverse transformer 206 applies a secondary inverse transform to the transform coefficients.

[Adder]

Adder 208 reconstructs the current block by summing prediction errors, which are inputs from inverse transformer 206, and prediction samples, which is an input from prediction controller 220. Adder 208 then outputs the reconstructed block to block memory 210 and loop filter 212.

[Block Memory]

Block memory 210 is storage for storing blocks in a picture to be decoded (hereinafter referred to as a current picture) for reference in intra prediction. More specifically, block memory 210 stores reconstructed blocks output from adder 208.

[Loop Filter]

Loop filter 212 applies a loop filter to blocks reconstructed by adder 208, and outputs the filtered reconstructed blocks to frame memory 214 and, for example, a display device.

When information indicating the enabling or disabling of ALF parsed from an encoded bitstream indicates enabled, one filter from among a plurality of filters is selected based on direction and activity of local gradients, and the selected filter is applied to the reconstructed block.

[Frame Memory]

Frame memory 214 is storage for storing reference pictures used in inter prediction, and is also referred to as a frame buffer. More specifically, frame memory 214 stores reconstructed blocks filtered by loop filter 212.

[Intra Predictor]

Intra predictor 216 generates a prediction signal (intra prediction signal) by intra prediction with reference to a block or blocks in the current picture and stored in block memory 210, based on the intra prediction mode parsed from the encoded bitstream. More specifically, intra predictor 216 generates an intra prediction signal by intra prediction with reference to samples (for example, luma and/or chroma values) of a block or blocks neighboring the current block, and then outputs the intra prediction signal to prediction controller 220.

Note that when an intra prediction mode in which a chroma block is intra predicted from a luma block is selected, intra predictor 216 may predict the chroma component of the current block based on the luma component of the current block.

Moreover, when information indicating the application of PDPC is parsed from an encoded bitstream, intra predictor 216 corrects post-intra-prediction pixel values based on horizontal/vertical reference pixel gradients.

[Inter Predictor]

Inter predictor 218 predicts the current block with reference to a reference picture stored in frame memory 214. Inter prediction is performed per current block or per sub-block (for example, per 4×4 block) in the current block. For example, inter predictor 218 generates an inter prediction signal of the current block or sub-block by motion compensation by using motion information (for example, a motion vector) parsed from an encoded bitstream, and outputs the inter prediction signal to prediction controller 220.

Note that when the information parsed from the encoded bitstream indicates application of OBMC mode, inter predictor 218 generates the inter prediction signal using motion information for a neighboring block in addition to motion information for the current block obtained from motion estimation.

Moreover, when the information parsed from the encoded bitstream indicates application of FRUC mode, inter predictor 218 derives motion information by performing motion estimation in accordance with the pattern matching method (bilateral matching or template matching) parsed from the encoded bitstream. Inter predictor 218 then performs motion compensation using the derived motion information.

Moreover, when BIO mode is to be applied, inter predictor 218 derives a motion vector based on a model assuming uniform linear motion. Moreover, when the information parsed from the encoded bitstream indicates that affine motion compensation prediction mode is to be applied, inter predictor 218 derives a motion vector of each sub-block based on motion vectors of neighboring blocks.

[Prediction Controller]

Prediction controller 220 selects either the intra prediction signal or the inter prediction signal, and outputs the selected prediction signal to adder 208.

Next, each aspect of block splitting performed by such encoder 100 or decoder 200 will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, a current block to be encoded or decoded is simply referred to as block.

First Aspect

FIG. 11 illustrates an encoding method and an encoding process performed by an encoder according to the first aspect.

At step S1001, a first cost is calculated from a first block coding process. The first block coding process does not include partitioning a block into a plurality of partitions, and a cost includes a distortion. The cost can be obtained, for example, by adding a value indicating coding distortion to a value obtained by multiplying, with a Lagrange multiplier, a value indicating the encoding load generated. The coding distortion can be obtained based on, for example, a sum of absolute difference between a locally decoded image and an original image.

At step S1002, a second cost is calculated from a second block coding process. The second block coding process includes a step of partitioning a block first into two smaller partitions.

At step S1003, whether the first cost is lower than the second cost is determined.

At step S1004, when it is determined that the first cost is lower than the second cost, a block coding process is selected from a second set of block coding processes. The second set of block coding processes does not include a third block coding process including a step of partitioning a block first into three smaller partitions.

FIG. 12 illustrates that when it is determined that the first cost is lower than all of the second costs, the second set of block coding processes excludes the third block coding process including the step of partitioning a block first into three smaller partitions. The second set of block coding processes is a sub set of a first set of block coding processes.

Specifically, in FIG. 12, when it is determined that the first cost is not lower than one of the second costs, a block coding process is selected from the first set of block coding processes including the third block coding process. In contrast, when it is determined that the first cost is lower than all of the second costs, a block coding process is selected from the second set of block coding processes obtained by excluding the third block coding process from the first set of block coding processes.

FIG. 13 illustrates other examples of the first costs having different binary tree depths. In the upper example, cost calculation is performed for a left partition obtained by partitioning a block into two partitions in a vertical direction. In the lower example, cost calculation is performed for an upper sub partition obtained by partitioning a block first into two partitions in a horizontal direction and then partitioning the upper partition into two sub partitions in the horizontal direction. In either of the examples, when it is determined that the first cost is lower than all of the second costs, the second set of block coding processes excludes the third block coding process having the step of partitioning a block first into three smaller partitions. The second set of block coding processes is a sub set of the first set of block coding processes.

At step S1005, when it is determined that the first cost is not lower than the second cost, a block coding process is selected from the first set of block coding processes. The first set of block coding processes includes at least the third block coding process.

At step S1006, a block is coded using the selected block coding process.

Advantageous Effects of First Aspect

The present aspect reduces the total number of partition structure candidates at an encoder side and thus reduces encoding complexity.

Combination with Other Aspects

This aspect may be implemented in combination with one or more of the other aspects according to the present disclosure. In addition, part of the processes in the flowcharts, part of the constituent elements of the apparatuses, and part of the syntax described in this aspect may be implemented in combination with other aspects.

Second Aspect

FIG. 14 illustrates an encoding method and an encoding process performed by an encoder according to the second aspect.

At step S2001, a first cost is calculated from a first block coding process. The first block coding process includes a step of partitioning a block into two smaller partitions only. In other words, in the first block coding process, the block is partitioned into two partitions and each of the partitions is not to be partitioned any further.

At step S2002, a second cost is calculated from a second block coding process. The second block coding process includes a step of partitioning a block first into two smaller partitions and the subsequent steps of partitioning into three or more partitions.

Step S2003 is the same as step S1003.

Step S2004 is the same as step S1004.

FIG. 15 illustrates that when it is determined that either one of the first costs is lower than all of the second costs, a block coding process is selected from a second set of block coding processes. The second set of block coding processes excludes a third block coding process including a step of partitioning a block first into three smaller partitions.

The second set of block coding processes is a sub set of a first set of block coding processes. In other words, the second set of block coding processes is obtained by excluding a predetermined coding process from the first set of block coding processes. The predetermined coding process includes at least the third block coding process.

Step S2005 is the same as step S1005.

Step S2006 is the same as step S1006.

Advantageous Effects of Second Aspect

The present aspect reduces the total number of partition structure candidates at an encoder side and thus reduces encoding complexity.

Combination with Other Aspects

This aspect may be implemented in combination with one or more of the other aspects according to the present disclosure. In addition, part of the processes in the flowcharts, part of the constituent elements of the apparatuses, and part of the syntax described in this aspect may be implemented in combination with other aspects.

Third Aspect

FIG. 16 illustrates an encoding method and an encoding process performed by an encoder according to the third aspect.

At step S3001, at least a first gradient of a rectangular block is calculated in a first direction parallel to the longer side of the rectangular block. The calculation of the gradient includes at least a directional change in intensity or color.

At step S3002, at least a second gradient of the rectangular block is calculated in a second direction. The second direction is different from the first direction.

At step S3003, whether the first gradient is greater than the second gradient is determined.

At step S3004, when it is determined that the first gradient is greater than the second gradient, a block coding process is selected from a second set of block coding processes. The second set of block coding processes does not include at least a first block coding process including a step of partitioning a block first into three smaller partitions in the first direction.

The second set of block coding processes is a sub set of a first set of block coding processes. In other words, the second set of block coding processes is obtained by excluding a predetermined coding process from the first set of block coding processes. The predetermined coding process includes at least the first block coding process.

FIG. 17 illustrates that when a vertical gradient of a rectangular block whose height is greater than its width is greater than its horizontal or diagonal gradient, a second set of block coding processes excludes a first block coding process including a step of partitioning a block first into three smaller partitions in a vertical direction. In other words, when the vertical gradient is greater than the horizontal or diagonal gradient, a block coding process is selected from the second set of block coding processes from which the first block coding process has been excluded. On the contrary, when the vertical gradient is not greater than the horizontal or diagonal gradient, a block coding process is selected from the first set of block coding processes including the first block coding process.

FIG. 18 illustrates that when a horizontal gradient of a rectangular block whose width is greater than its height is greater than its vertical or diagonal gradient, a second set of block coding processes excludes a first block coding process including a step of partitioning a block first into three smaller partitions in a horizontal direction. In other words, when the horizontal gradient is greater than the vertical or diagonal gradient, a block coding process is selected from the second set of block coding processes from which the first block coding process has been excluded. On the contrary, when the horizontal gradient is not greater than the vertical or diagonal gradient, a block coding process is selected from the first set of block coding processes including the first block coding process.

FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate examples of calculation of a change in pixel intensity in a horizontal direction. A horizontal gradient is calculation related to a change in intensity or color in the horizontal direction. Similarly, a vertical gradient can be calculated based on a change in intensity or color in a vertical direction. Similarly, a diagonal gradient can be calculated based on a change in intensity or color in a diagonal direction.

Specifically, in the example illustrated in FIG. 19A, an absolute difference between two pixels neighboring in a pixel row in the horizontal direction is firstly calculated. For example, absolute difference h1_12=abs(p1, p2), h1_23, h1_34 is calculated in the first row. Then, an average absolute difference (e.g., average absolute difference H1=average (h1_12+h1_23+h1_34 in the first row) is calculated for each pixel row. By calculating an average of average absolute difference in plural pixel columns thus calculated (average (H1+H2+H3+H4)), a horizontal gradient is calculated. In the example illustrated in FIG. 19B, a one-dimensional filter is applied to three pixels neighboring in a pixel row in the horizontal direction. For example, h1_123 (=2×p2−p1−p3) and h1_234 are calculated using filter coefficients (−1, 2, −1). Then, an average of the filtered values (e.g., H1=average (h1_123+h1_234 in the first row)) is calculated for each pixel row. Furthermore, by calculating an average of average values calculated for plural pixel rows (average (H1+H2+H3+H4)), a horizontal gradient is calculated.

The first gradient and the second gradient are not limited to vertical or horizontal gradients. They can include a gradient in other direction such as a diagonal direction or a gradient in a different direction. The gradient calculation described in FIG. 19A or 19B is just an example and any other method for gradient calculation may be applied.

At step S3005, when it is determined that the first gradient is not greater than the second gradient, a block coding process is selected from the first set of block coding processes. The first set of block coding processes includes the first block coding process.

At step S3006, the block is encoded using the selected block coding process.

Advantageous Effects of Third Aspect

The present aspect reduces the total number of partition structure candidates at an encoder side and thus reduces encoding complexity.

Combination with Other Aspects

This aspect may be implemented in combination with one or more of the other aspects according to the present disclosure. In addition, part of the processes in the flowcharts, part of the constituent elements of the apparatuses, and part of the syntax described in this aspect may be implemented in combination with other aspects.

Fourth Aspect

FIG. 20 illustrates an encoding method and an encoding process performed by an encoder according to the fourth aspect.

At step S4001, whether a step of partitioning a block in a first block coding process generates a partition having half the size of the block is determined.

At step S4002, when it is determined that the step of partitioning a block in the first block coding process generates a partition having half the size of the block, at least a gradient of the block is calculated.

At step S4003, a second set of block coding processes is generated from a first set of block coding processes by excluding therefrom at least a block coding process that uses gradient information. The block coding process excluded here includes at least a step of partitioning a block first into three smaller partitions.

At step S4004, a block coding process is selected from the second set of block coding processes.

(a) in FIG. 21 illustrates that when the block coding process generates an area of a sub partition which is half the area of the block and a horizontal gradient is greater than a vertical gradient, a block coding process is selected from the second set of block coding processes. The second set of block coding processes excludes a process of coding a block having a plurality of partitions and a step of partitioning a block first into three smaller partitions in a horizontal direction.

(b) in FIG. 21 illustrates that when the block coding process generates an area of a sub partition which is half the area of the block and a vertical gradient is greater than a horizontal gradient, a block coding process is selected from the second set of block coding processes. The second set of block coding processes excludes the process of coding a block having a plurality of partitions and the step of partitioning a block first into three smaller partitions in the horizontal direction.

At step S4005, when it is determined that the step of partitioning a block in the first block coding process does not generate a partition having half the size of the block, a block coding process is selected from the first set of block coding processes.

At step S4006, the block is coded using the selected block coding process.

Advantageous Effects of Fourth Aspect

The present aspect reduces the total number of partition structure candidates at an encoder side and thus reduces encoding complexity.

Combination with Other Aspects

This aspect may be implemented in combination with one or more of the other aspects according to the present disclosure. In addition, part of the processes in the flowcharts, part of the constituent elements of the apparatuses, and part of the syntax described in this aspect may be implemented in combination with other aspects.

Fifth Aspect

FIG. 22 illustrates an encoding method and an encoding process performed by an encoder according to the fifth aspect.

At step S5001, a first side of a block is identified as the longer side out of the two sides of the block and a second side of the block is identified as a side that is not the longer side of the block.

At step S5002, when the block is to be split into at least three smaller partitions, it is determined whether splitting the block in a direction parallel to the first side generates at least a partition having a size not supported in a prediction process or a transform process.

At step S5003, when it is determined that splitting the block in the direction parallel to the first side generates at least a partition having a size not supported in a prediction process or a transform process, the block is split into smaller partitions in a direction parallel to the second side. FIG. 23A illustrates an example of splitting a 16×8 block into three smaller partitions in a direction parallel to the height of the 16×8 block (vertical direction) when transform is not implemented for 16×2. FIG. 23B illustrates an example of splitting a 16×8 block into four smaller partitions in a direction parallel to the height of the 16×8 block (vertical direction) when transform is not implemented for 16×2. The size 16×2 is obtained by splitting the block in a direction parallel to the width of the block. In other words, in FIGS. 23A and 23B, it is not allowed to split the block into three or four in a horizontal direction parallel to the first side (longer side).

At step S5004, when it is not determined that splitting the block in the direction parallel to the first side generates at least a partition having a size not supported in a prediction process or a transform process, a split direction parameter is written into a bitstream. The split direction parameter may indicate a direction in which a block is to be split and indicate a horizontal or vertical direction. The location of a split direction parameter is illustrated in FIG. 31.

At step S5005, the block is split into smaller partitions in a direction indicated by the split direction parameter.

At step S5006, a partition or a sub partition of the partition is encoded. It should be noted that the terms “write” and “into (a bitstream)” at step S5004 and the term “encode” at step S5006 for the encoding method and the encoding process performed by an encoder may be respectively replaced with the terms “parse”, “from (the bitstream)”, and “decode” for a decoding method and a decoding process performed by a decoder.

Advantageous Effects of Fifth Aspect

According to the present aspect, there is no need to encode a split direction at some specific block sizes, and this improves coding efficiency. The present disclosure also reduces the total number of partition structure candidates at an encoder side and thus reduces encoding complexity.

Combination with Other Aspects

This aspect may be implemented in combination with one or more of the other aspects according to the present disclosure. In addition, part of the processes in the flowcharts, part of the constituent elements of the apparatuses, and part of the syntax described in this aspect may be implemented in combination with other aspects.

Sixth Aspect

FIG. 24 illustrates an encoding method and an encoding process performed by an encoder according to the sixth aspect.

At step S6001, it is determined whether splitting a block into three smaller partitions in each direction of a plurality of directions generates at least a partition having a size not supported in a prediction process or a transform process.

At step S6002, when it is determined that splitting the block into three smaller partitions in each direction of the plurality of directions generates at least a partition having a size not supported in a prediction process or a transform process, the block is split into two smaller partitions in one direction.

At step S6003, when it is determined that splitting the block into three smaller partitions at least in one direction among a plurality of directions does not generate at least a partition having a size not supported in a prediction process or a transform process, a parameter is written into the bitstream. The parameter indicates the number of smaller partitions obtained by splitting a block. The parameter may be a split mode parameter. The split mode parameter may indicate the number of sub blocks having a predetermined split ratio for splitting a block. The split mode parameter may indicate at least the number of partitions into which a block is to be split. The location of a split mode parameter is illustrated in FIG. 31.

At step S6004, the block is split into several partitions in one direction according to the parameter. The number of the partitions may be 2 or 3.

Step S6005 is the same as step S5006.

FIG. 25A illustrates examples of a candidate for a partition structure for splitting a 16×16 block. FIG. 25B illustrates examples of a candidate for a partition structure for splitting an 8×8 block. There are four candidates for the partition structure for splitting the 16×16 block, as illustrated in FIG. 25A. There are two candidates for the partition structure for splitting the 8×8 block, as illustrated in FIG. 25B. In the examples, a partition structure of splitting the 8×8 block into three smaller partitions along a horizontal or vertical direction is removed from the partition structure candidates since 8×2 and 2×8 are not supported in a transform process. In other words, it is not allowed to split the 8×8 block into three sub blocks because 8×2 and 2×8 sizes are not supported in a transform process.

It should be noted that the terms “write” and “into (a bitstream)” at step S6003 and the term “encode” at step S6005 for the encoding method and the encoding process performed by an encoder may be respectively replaced with the terms “parse”, “from (the bitstream)”, and “decode” for a decoding method and a decoding process performed by a decoder.

Advantageous Effects of Sixth Aspect

According to the present aspect, there is no need to encode a split direction at some specific block sizes, and this improves coding efficiency. The present disclosure also reduces the total number of partition structure candidates at an encoder side and thus reduces encoding complexity.

Combination with Other Aspects

This aspect may be implemented in combination with one or more of the other aspects according to the present disclosure. In addition, part of the processes in the flowcharts, part of the constituent elements of the apparatuses, and part of the syntax described in this aspect may be implemented in combination with other aspects.

Seventh Aspect

FIG. 26 illustrates an encoding method and an encoding process performed by an encoder according to the seventh aspect.

At step S7001, a block is split into first, second, and third sub blocks in a first direction. According to the present aspect, the split ratio of ternary split is 1:2:1 as illustrated in FIG. 30. Accordingly, the second sub block located between the first sub block and the third sub block is larger in size than the first and third sub blocks. It should be noted that the index values of 0 to 2 may be sequentially assigned to the first through third sub blocks.

At step S7002, when the second sub block is to be split into a plurality of partitions, a split mode parameter is written into a bitstream to indicate the number of partitions. The split mode parameter may indicate the number of sub blocks having a predetermined split ratio for splitting a block, as illustrated in FIG. 30. The split mode parameter may indicate only the number of sub blocks. The split mode parameter may indicate, along with the number of sub blocks, information different from a split ratio. The location of a split mode parameter is illustrated in FIG. 31.

At step S7003, whether the split mode parameter indicates that the number of partitions is two is determined.

At step S7004, when it is determined that the split mode parameter indicates that the number of partitions is two, the second sub block is split into two partitions in a second direction different from the first direction. In other words, it is prohibited to split the second sub block into two partitions in the first direction. This is why a split direction parameter is not written into a bitstream. Namely, writing a split direction parameter into the bitstream is omitted (i.e., skipped).

FIG. 27 illustrates examples of a way to split a 32×32 block. In (a), a 32×32 block is split first into two sub blocks in a vertical direction, and then each of the sub blocks is split into two partitions in the vertical direction. In (b), a 32×32 block is split first into three sub blocks in the vertical direction, and then the largest sub block is split into two partitions. A split direction for splitting the largest sub block is set so to be parallel to the shorter side of a 16×32 block. In other words, splitting the largest sub block into two partitions in a horizontal direction is allowed, but splitting in the vertical direction is not allowed. The largest sub block is equivalent to the second sub block. This inhibits the occurrence of the same partition structure (also referred to as repeated partition structure) in the mutually different splitting ways illustrated in (a) and (b).

At step S7005, when it is not determined that the split mode parameter indicates that the number of partitions is two, a split direction parameter is written into the bitstream. The split direction parameter may indicate the split direction of a block, and indicate a horizontal or vertical direction as illustrated in FIG. 30. The location of a split direction parameter is illustrated in FIG. 31

At step S7006, the second sub block is split into at least three smaller partitions in a direction indicated by the split direction parameter.

Step S7007 is the same as step S5006.

It should be noted that the terms “write” and “into (a bitstream)” at step S6003 and the term “encode” at step S6005 for the encoding method and the encoding process performed by an encoder may be respectively replaced with the terms “parse”, “from (the bitstream)”, and “decode” for a decoding method and a decoding process performed by a decoder.

Note that the steps and the order of the steps are just examples as has been described above, and are not limited to such. The order of the steps may be changed as can be conceived by a person skilled in the art as long as it does not go beyond the scope of the present disclosure. In FIG. 26, for example, a split direction parameter may be written into a bitstream ahead of a split mode parameter. In other words, in FIG. 31, the location of a split mode parameter may be replaced with the location of a split direction parameter. In FIG. 26, step S7002 may be replaced with step S7005.

In this case, when the second sub block is to be split into a plurality of partitions, a split direction parameter is firstly written into a bitstream. Subsequently, whether the split direction parameter indicates a first direction is determined. When the split direction parameter indicates the first direction, the second sub block is split into three partitions in the first direction. In other words, it is prohibited to split the second sub block into two partitions in the first direction. This is why a split mode parameter is not written into the bitstream. Namely, writing a split mode parameter into the bitstream is omitted or skipped. In contrast, when the split direction parameter indicates a second direction different from the first direction, a split mode parameter indicating the number of partitions into which the second sub block is to be split is written into the bitstream, and the second sub block is split, in the second direction, into as many partitions as the number indicated by the split mode parameter The split direction parameter is one example of a first parameter indicating a direction in which the second sub block is to be split, whereas the split mode parameter is one example of a second parameter indicating the number of partitions into which the second sub block is to be split.

Advantageous Effects of Seventh Aspect

According to the present aspect, there is no need to encode a split direction or the number of partitions at some specific block sizes, and this improves coding efficiency. The present disclosure also reduces the total number of partition structure candidates at an encoder side and thus reduces encoding complexity.

Combination with Other Aspects

This aspect may be implemented in combination with one or more of the other aspects according to the present disclosure. In addition, part of the processes in the flowcharts, part of the constituent elements of the apparatuses, and part of the syntax described in this aspect may be implemented in combination with other aspects.

Eighth Aspect

FIG. 28 illustrates an encoding method and an encoding process performed by an encoder according to the eighth aspect.

At step S8001, a block is split into first, second, and third sub blocks in a first direction.

At step S8002, it is determined whether each of the first and second sub blocks is further split into two smaller partitions in a second direction different from the first direction.

At step S8003, when it is determined that each of the first and second sub blocks is further split into two smaller partitions in the second direction different from the first direction, the third sub block is split into smaller partitions. When the third sub block is split into two smaller partitions, the third sub block is split in the same direction as the first direction.

At step S8004, when it is not determined that each of the first and second sub blocks is further split into two smaller partitions in the second direction different from the first direction, a split direction parameter is written into a bitstream. The split direction parameter may indicate a horizontal or vertical direction, as illustrated in FIG. 30. The location of a split direction parameter is illustrated in FIG. 31.

At step S8005, the first sub block is split into smaller partitions in the direction indicated by the split direction parameter.

Step S8006 is the same as step S5006.

FIG. 29 illustrates examples of a way to split a 64×64 block. In (a), a 64×64 block is split first into two sub blocks in a vertical direction, and then each of the sub blocks is split into three partitions in a horizontal direction. In (b), a 64×64 block is split first into three sub blocks in the horizontal direction, and then each of the sub blocks is split into two partitions.

In (b), a direction for splitting the 64×64 block into the first through third sub blocks is horizontal while a direction for splitting the first two sub blocks (i.e., the first and second sub blocks) is vertical. A direction for splitting the third sub block is horizontal that is the same direction as the direction used for splitting the 64×64 block. In other words, it is prohibited, in (b), to split the third sub block into two partitions in the vertical direction. This inhibits the occurrence of the same partition structure in the mutually different splitting ways illustrated in (a) and (b).

At step S8005, the first sub block is split into two partitions in the direction indicated by the split direction parameter.

It should be noted that the terms “write” and “into (a bitstream)” at step S8004 and the term “encode” at step S8006 for the encoding method and the encoding process performed by an encoder may be respectively replaced with the terms “parse”, “from (the bitstream)”, and “decode” for a decoding method and a decoding process performed by a decoder.

Advantageous Effects of Eighth Aspect

According to the present aspect, there is no need to encode a split direction at some specific block sizes, and this improves coding efficiency. The present disclosure also reduces the total number of partition structure candidates at an encoder side and thus reduces encoding complexity.

Combination with Other Aspects

This aspect may be implemented in combination with one or more of the other aspects according to the present disclosure. In addition, part of the processes in the flowcharts, part of the constituent elements of the apparatuses, and part of the syntax described in this aspect may be implemented in combination with other aspects.

Variations

In all of the above-described aspects, it is possible to use one or plural thresholds for determining the number of smaller partitions and a split direction for splitting a block. The thresholds may be adaptively changed according to a time layer, a quantization parameter, or a pixel value activity in a slice, or a combination of splitting patterns such as a combination of a quadtree splitting, a binary tree splitting and any other splitting, or a combination of other coding tools including triangular splitting. The thresholds may be adaptively changed according to a block size such as a block width or a block height, or a multiplication of a block width and a block height. The thresholds may be adaptively changed according to a block shape and/or a split depth.

It should be noted that the locations of a split mode parameter and a split direction parameter are not limited to the locations illustrated in FIG. 31. In other words, the signaling of a split mode parameter and a split direction parameter does not need to be performed limitedly at a CTU level, and any other level (e.g., a picture level, a slice level, a tile group level, or a tile level) may be applied.

Note that a parameter indicating whether a block is to be split into two or three sub blocks or partitions may be written into a bitstream. In this case, when the parameter indicates that a block is to be split into two or three sub blocks or partitions, the encoding method or decoding method according to each of the above-described aspects may be applied.

Other Embodiments

As described in each of the above embodiments, each functional block can typically be realized as an MPU and memory, for example. Moreover, processes performed by each of the functional blocks are typically realized by a program execution unit, such as a processor, reading and executing software (a program) recorded on a recording medium such as ROM. The software may be distributed via, for example, downloading, and may be recorded on a recording medium such as semiconductor memory and distributed. Note that each functional block can, of course, also be realized as hardware (dedicated circuit).

Moreover, the processing described in each of the embodiments may be realized via integrated processing using a single apparatus (system), and, alternatively, may be realized via decentralized processing using a plurality of apparatuses. Moreover, the processor that executes the above-described program may be a single processor or a plurality of processors. In other words, integrated processing may be performed, and, alternatively, decentralized processing may be performed.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the above exemplary embodiments; various modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments, the results of which are also included within the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Next, application examples of the moving picture encoding method (image encoding method) and the moving picture decoding method (image decoding method) described in each of the above embodiments and a system that employs the same will be described. The system is characterized as including an image encoder that employs the image encoding method, an image decoder that employs the image decoding method, and an image encoder/decoder that includes both the image encoder and the image decoder. Other configurations included in the system may be appropriately modified on a case-by-case basis.

USAGE EXAMPLES

FIG. 32 illustrates an overall configuration of content providing system ex100 for implementing a content distribution service. The area in which the communication service is provided is divided into cells of desired sizes, and base stations ex106, ex107, ex108, ex109, and ex110, which are fixed wireless stations, are located in respective cells.

In content providing system ex100, devices including computer ex111, gaming device ex112, camera ex113, home appliance ex114, and smartphone ex115 are connected to internet ex101 via internet service provider ex102 or communications network ex104 and base stations ex106 through ex110. Content providing system ex100 may combine and connect any combination of the above elements. The devices may be directly or indirectly connected together via a telephone network or near field communication rather than via base stations ex106 through ex110, which are fixed wireless stations. Moreover, streaming server ex103 is connected to devices including computer ex111, gaming device ex112, camera ex113, home appliance ex114, and smartphone ex115 via, for example, internet ex101. Streaming server ex103 is also connected to, for example, a terminal in a hotspot in airplane ex117 via satellite ex116.

Note that instead of base stations ex106 through ex110, wireless access points or hotspots may be used. Streaming server ex103 may be connected to communications network ex104 directly instead of via internet ex101 or internet service provider ex102, and may be connected to airplane ex117 directly instead of via satellite ex116.

Camera ex113 is a device capable of capturing still images and video, such as a digital camera. Smartphone ex115 is a smartphone device, cellular phone, or personal handyphone system (PHS) phone that can operate under the mobile communications system standards of the typical 2G, 3G, 3.9G, and 4G systems, as well as the next-generation 5G system.

Home appliance ex118 is, for example, a refrigerator or a device included in a home fuel cell cogeneration system.

In content providing system ex100, a terminal including an image and/or video capturing function is capable of, for example, live streaming by connecting to streaming server ex103 via, for example, base station ex106. When live streaming, a terminal (e.g., computer ex111, gaming device ex112, camera ex113, home appliance ex114, smartphone ex115, or airplane ex117) performs the encoding processing described in the above embodiments on still-image or video content captured by a user via the terminal, multiplexes video data obtained via the encoding and audio data obtained by encoding audio corresponding to the video, and transmits the obtained data to streaming server ex103. In other words, the terminal functions as the image encoder according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

Streaming server ex103 streams transmitted content data to clients that request the stream. Client examples include computer ex111, gaming device ex112, camera ex113, home appliance ex114, smartphone ex115, and terminals inside airplane ex117, which are capable of decoding the above-described encoded data. Devices that receive the streamed data decode and reproduce the received data. In other words, the devices each function as the image decoder according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[Decentralized Processing]

Streaming server ex103 may be realized as a plurality of servers or computers between which tasks such as the processing, recording, and streaming of data are divided. For example, streaming server ex103 may be realized as a content delivery network (CDN) that streams content via a network connecting multiple edge servers located throughout the world. In a CDN, an edge server physically near the client is dynamically assigned to the client. Content is cached and streamed to the edge server to reduce load times. In the event of, for example, some kind of an error or a change in connectivity due to, for example, a spike in traffic, it is possible to stream data stably at high speeds since it is possible to avoid affected parts of the network by, for example, dividing the processing between a plurality of edge servers or switching the streaming duties to a different edge server, and continuing streaming.

Decentralization is not limited to just the division of processing for streaming; the encoding of the captured data may be divided between and performed by the terminals, on the server side, or both. In one example, in typical encoding, the processing is performed in two loops. The first loop is for detecting how complicated the image is on a frame-by-frame or scene-by-scene basis, or detecting the encoding load. The second loop is for processing that maintains image quality and improves encoding efficiency. For example, it is possible to reduce the processing load of the terminals and improve the quality and encoding efficiency of the content by having the terminals perform the first loop of the encoding and having the server side that received the content perform the second loop of the encoding. In such a case, upon receipt of a decoding request, it is possible for the encoded data resulting from the first loop performed by one terminal to be received and reproduced on another terminal in approximately real time. This makes it possible to realize smooth, real-time streaming.

In another example, camera ex113 or the like extracts a feature amount from an image, compresses data related to the feature amount as metadata, and transmits the compressed metadata to a server. For example, the server determines the significance of an object based on the feature amount and changes the quantization accuracy accordingly to perform compression suitable for the meaning of the image. Feature amount data is particularly effective in improving the precision and efficiency of motion vector prediction during the second compression pass performed by the server. Moreover, encoding that has a relatively low processing load, such as variable length coding (VLC), may be handled by the terminal, and encoding that has a relatively high processing load, such as context-adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC), may be handled by the server.

In yet another example, there are instances in which a plurality of videos of approximately the same scene are captured by a plurality of terminals in, for example, a stadium, shopping mall, or factory. In such a case, for example, the encoding may be decentralized by dividing processing tasks between the plurality of terminals that captured the videos and, if necessary, other terminals that did not capture the videos and the server, on a per-unit basis. The units may be, for example, groups of pictures (GOP), pictures, or tiles resulting from dividing a picture. This makes it possible to reduce load times and achieve streaming that is closer to real-time.

Moreover, since the videos are of approximately the same scene, management and/or instruction may be carried out by the server so that the videos captured by the terminals can be cross-referenced. Moreover, the server may receive encoded data from the terminals, change reference relationship between items of data or correct or replace pictures themselves, and then perform the encoding. This makes it possible to generate a stream with increased quality and efficiency for the individual items of data.

Moreover, the server may stream video data after performing transcoding to convert the encoding format of the video data. For example, the server may convert the encoding format from MPEG to VP, and may convert H.264 to H.265.

In this way, encoding can be performed by a terminal or one or more servers. Accordingly, although the device that performs the encoding is referred to as a “server” or “terminal” in the following description, some or all of the processes performed by the server may be performed by the terminal, and likewise some or all of the processes performed by the terminal may be performed by the server. This also applies to decoding processes.

[3D, Multi-Angle]

In recent years, usage of images or videos combined from images or videos of different scenes concurrently captured or the same scene captured from different angles by a plurality of terminals such as camera ex113 and/or smartphone ex115 has increased. Videos captured by the terminals are combined based on, for example, the separately-obtained relative positional relationship between the terminals, or regions in a video having matching feature points.

In addition to the encoding of two-dimensional moving pictures, the server may encode a still image based on scene analysis of a moving picture either automatically or at a point in time specified by the user, and transmit the encoded still image to a reception terminal. Furthermore, when the server can obtain the relative positional relationship between the video capturing terminals, in addition to two-dimensional moving pictures, the server can generate three-dimensional geometry of a scene based on video of the same scene captured from different angles. Note that the server may separately encode three-dimensional data generated from, for example, a point cloud, and may, based on a result of recognizing or tracking a person or object using three-dimensional data, select or reconstruct and generate a video to be transmitted to a reception terminal from videos captured by a plurality of terminals.

This allows the user to enjoy a scene by freely selecting videos corresponding to the video capturing terminals, and allows the user to enjoy the content obtained by extracting, from three-dimensional data reconstructed from a plurality of images or videos, a video from a selected viewpoint. Furthermore, similar to with video, sound may be recorded from relatively different angles, and the server may multiplex, with the video, audio from a specific angle or space in accordance with the video, and transmit the result.

In recent years, content that is a composite of the real world and a virtual world, such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) content, has also become popular. In the case of VR images, the server may create images from the viewpoints of both the left and right eyes and perform encoding that tolerates reference between the two viewpoint images, such as multi-view coding (MVC), and, alternatively, may encode the images as separate streams without referencing. When the images are decoded as separate streams, the streams may be synchronized when reproduced so as to recreate a virtual three-dimensional space in accordance with the viewpoint of the user.

In the case of AR images, the server superimposes virtual object information existing in a virtual space onto camera information representing a real-world space, based on a three-dimensional position or movement from the perspective of the user. The decoder may obtain or store virtual object information and three-dimensional data, generate two-dimensional images based on movement from the perspective of the user, and then generate superimposed data by seamlessly connecting the images. Alternatively, the decoder may transmit, to the server, motion from the perspective of the user in addition to a request for virtual object information, and the server may generate superimposed data based on three-dimensional data stored in the server in accordance with the received motion, and encode and stream the generated superimposed data to the decoder. Note that superimposed data includes, in addition to RGB values, an a value indicating transparency, and the server sets the a value for sections other than the object generated from three-dimensional data to, for example, 0, and may perform the encoding while those sections are transparent. Alternatively, the server may set the background to a predetermined RGB value, such as a chroma key, and generate data in which areas other than the object are set as the background.

Decoding of similarly streamed data may be performed by the client (i.e., the terminals), on the server side, or divided therebetween. In one example, one terminal may transmit a reception request to a server, the requested content may be received and decoded by another terminal, and a decoded signal may be transmitted to a device having a display. It is possible to reproduce high image quality data by decentralizing processing and appropriately selecting content regardless of the processing ability of the communications terminal itself. In yet another example, while a TV, for example, is receiving image data that is large in size, a region of a picture, such as a tile obtained by dividing the picture, may be decoded and displayed on a personal terminal or terminals of a viewer or viewers of the TV. This makes it possible for the viewers to share a big-picture view as well as for each viewer to check his or her assigned area or inspect a region in further detail up close.

In the future, both indoors and outdoors, in situations in which a plurality of wireless connections are possible over near, mid, and far distances, it is expected to be able to seamlessly receive content even when switching to data appropriate for the current connection, using a streaming system standard such as MPEG-DASH. With this, the user can switch between data in real time while freely selecting a decoder or display apparatus including not only his or her own terminal, but also, for example, displays disposed indoors or outdoors. Moreover, based on, for example, information on the position of the user, decoding can be performed while switching which terminal handles decoding and which terminal handles the displaying of content. This makes it possible to, while in route to a destination, display, on the wall of a nearby building in which a device capable of displaying content is embedded or on part of the ground, map information while on the move. Moreover, it is also possible to switch the bit rate of the received data based on the accessibility to the encoded data on a network, such as when encoded data is cached on a server quickly accessible from the reception terminal or when encoded data is copied to an edge server in a content delivery service.

[Scalable Encoding]

The switching of content will be described with reference to a scalable stream, illustrated in FIG. 33, which is compression coded via implementation of the moving picture encoding method described in the above embodiments. The server may have a configuration in which content is switched while making use of the temporal and/or spatial scalability of a stream, which is achieved by division into and encoding of layers, as illustrated in FIG. 33. Note that there may be a plurality of individual streams that are of the same content but different quality. In other words, by determining which layer to decode up to based on internal factors, such as the processing ability on the decoder side, and external factors, such as communication bandwidth, the decoder side can freely switch between low resolution content and high resolution content while decoding. For example, in a case in which the user wants to continue watching, at home on a device such as a TV connected to the internet, a video that he or she had been previously watching on smartphone ex115 while on the move, the device can simply decode the same stream up to a different layer, which reduces server side load.

Furthermore, in addition to the configuration described above in which scalability is achieved as a result of the pictures being encoded per layer and the enhancement layer is above the base layer, the enhancement layer may include metadata based on, for example, statistical information on the image, and the decoder side may generate high image quality content by performing super-resolution imaging on a picture in the base layer based on the metadata. Super-resolution imaging may be improving the SN ratio while maintaining resolution and/or increasing resolution. Metadata includes information for identifying a linear or a non-linear filter coefficient used in super-resolution processing, or information identifying a parameter value in filter processing, machine learning, or least squares method used in super-resolution processing.

Alternatively, a configuration in which a picture is divided into, for example, tiles in accordance with the meaning of, for example, an object in the image, and on the decoder side, only a partial region is decoded by selecting a tile to decode, is also acceptable. Moreover, by storing an attribute about the object (person, car, ball, etc.) and a position of the object in the video (coordinates in identical images) as metadata, the decoder side can identify the position of a desired object based on the metadata and determine which tile or tiles include that object. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 34, metadata is stored using a data storage structure different from pixel data such as an SEI message in HEVC. This metadata indicates, for example, the position, size, or color of the main object.

Moreover, metadata may be stored in units of a plurality of pictures, such as stream, sequence, or random access units. With this, the decoder side can obtain, for example, the time at which a specific person appears in the video, and by fitting that with picture unit information, can identify a picture in which the object is present and the position of the object in the picture.

[Web Page Optimization]

FIG. 35 illustrates an example of a display screen of a web page on, for example, computer ex111. FIG. 36 illustrates an example of a display screen of a web page on, for example, smartphone ex115. As illustrated in FIG. 35 and FIG. 36, a web page may include a plurality of image links which are links to image content, and the appearance of the web page differs depending on the device used to view the web page. When a plurality of image links are viewable on the screen, until the user explicitly selects an image link, or until the image link is in the approximate center of the screen or the entire image link fits in the screen, the display apparatus (decoder) displays, as the image links, still images included in the content or I pictures, displays video such as an animated gif using a plurality of still images or I pictures, for example, or receives only the base layer and decodes and displays the video.

When an image link is selected by the user, the display apparatus decodes giving the highest priority to the base layer. Note that if there is information in the HTML code of the web page indicating that the content is scalable, the display apparatus may decode up to the enhancement layer. Moreover, in order to guarantee real time reproduction, before a selection is made or when the bandwidth is severely limited, the display apparatus can reduce delay between the point in time at which the leading picture is decoded and the point in time at which the decoded picture is displayed (that is, the delay between the start of the decoding of the content to the displaying of the content) by decoding and displaying only forward reference pictures (I picture, P picture, forward reference B picture). Moreover, the display apparatus may purposely ignore the reference relationship between pictures and coarsely decode all B and P pictures as forward reference pictures, and then perform normal decoding as the number of pictures received over time increases.

[Autonomous Driving]

When transmitting and receiving still image or video data such two- or three-dimensional map information for autonomous driving or assisted driving of an automobile, the reception terminal may receive, in addition to image data belonging to one or more layers, information on, for example, the weather or road construction as metadata, and associate the metadata with the image data upon decoding. Note that metadata may be assigned per layer and, alternatively, may simply be multiplexed with the image data.

In such a case, since the automobile, drone, airplane, etc., including the reception terminal is mobile, the reception terminal can seamlessly receive and decode while switching between base stations among base stations ex106 through ex110 by transmitting information indicating the position of the reception terminal upon reception request. Moreover, in accordance with the selection made by the user, the situation of the user, or the bandwidth of the connection, the reception terminal can dynamically select to what extent the metadata is received or to what extent the map information, for example, is up dated.

With this, in content providing system ex100, the client can receive, decode, and reproduce, in real time, encoded information transmitted by the user.

[Streaming of Individual Content]

In content providing system ex100, in addition to high image quality, long content distributed by a video distribution entity, unicast or multicast streaming of low image quality, short content from an individual is also possible. Moreover, such content from individuals is likely to further increase in popularity. The server may first perform editing processing on the content before the encoding processing in order to refine the individual content. This may be achieved with, for example, the following configuration.

In real-time while capturing video or image content or after the content has been captured and accumulated, the server performs recognition processing based on the raw or encoded data, such as capture error processing, scene search processing, meaning analysis, and/or object detection processing. Then, based on the result of the recognition processing, the server—either when prompted or automatically—edits the content, examples of which include: correction such as focus and/or motion blur correction; removing low-priority scenes such as scenes that are low in brightness compared to other pictures or out of focus; object edge adjustment; and color tone adjustment. The server encodes the edited data based on the result of the editing. It is known that excessively long videos tend to receive fewer views. Accordingly, in order to keep the content within a specific length that scales with the length of the original video, the server may, in addition to the low-priority scenes described above, automatically clip out scenes with low movement based on an image processing result. Alternatively, the server may generate and encode a video digest based on a result of an analysis of the meaning of a scene.

Note that there are instances in which individual content may include content that infringes a copyright, moral right, portrait rights, etc. Such an instance may lead to an unfavorable situation for the creator, such as when content is shared beyond the scope intended by the creator. Accordingly, before encoding, the server may, for example, edit images so as to blur faces of people in the periphery of the screen or blur the inside of a house, for example. Moreover, the server may be configured to recognize the faces of people other than a registered person in images to be encoded, and when such faces appear in an image, for example, apply a mosaic filter to the face of the person. Alternatively, as pre- or post-processing for encoding, the user may specify, for copyright reasons, a region of an image including a person or a region of the background be processed, and the server may process the specified region by, for example, replacing the region with a different image or blurring the region. If the region includes a person, the person may be tracked in the moving picture the head region may be replaced with another image as the person moves.

Moreover, since there is a demand for real-time viewing of content produced by individuals, which tends to be small in data size, the decoder first receives the base layer as the highest priority and performs decoding and reproduction, although this may differ depending on bandwidth. When the content is reproduced two or more times, such as when the decoder receives the enhancement layer during decoding and reproduction of the base layer and loops the reproduction, the decoder may reproduce a high image quality video including the enhancement layer. If the stream is encoded using such scalable encoding, the video may be low quality when in an unselected state or at the start of the video, but it can offer an experience in which the image quality of the stream progressively increases in an intelligent manner. This is not limited to just scalable encoding; the same experience can be offered by configuring a single stream from a low quality stream reproduced for the first time and a second stream encoded using the first stream as a reference.

Other Usage Examples

The encoding and decoding may be performed by LSI ex500, which is typically included in each terminal. LSI ex500 may be configured of a single chip or a plurality of chips. Software for encoding and decoding moving pictures may be integrated into some type of a recording medium (such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, or a hard disk) that is readable by, for example, computer ex111, and the encoding and decoding may be performed using the software. Furthermore, when smartphone ex115 is equipped with a camera, the video data obtained by the camera may be transmitted. In this case, the video data is coded by LSI ex500 included in smartphone ex115.

Note that LSI ex500 may be configured to download and activate an application. In such a case, the terminal first determines whether it is compatible with the scheme used to encode the content or whether it is capable of executing a specific service. When the terminal is not compatible with the encoding scheme of the content or when the terminal is not capable of executing a specific service, the terminal first downloads a codec or application software then obtains and reproduces the content.

Aside from the example of content providing system ex100 that uses internet ex101, at least the moving picture encoder (image encoder) or the moving picture decoder (image decoder) described in the above embodiments may be implemented in a digital broadcasting system. The same encoding processing and decoding processing may be applied to transmit and receive broadcast radio waves superimposed with multiplexed audio and video data using, for example, a satellite, even though this is geared toward multicast whereas unicast is easier with content providing system ex100.

[Hardware Configuration]

FIG. 37 illustrates smartphone ex115. FIG. 38 illustrates a configuration example of smartphone ex115. Smartphone ex115 includes antenna ex450 for transmitting and receiving radio waves to and from base station ex110, camera ex465 capable of capturing video and still images, and display ex458 that displays decoded data, such as video captured by camera ex465 and video received by antenna ex450. Smartphone ex115 further includes user interface ex466 such as a touch panel, audio output unit ex457 such as a speaker for outputting speech or other audio, audio input unit ex456 such as a microphone for audio input, memory ex467 capable of storing decoded data such as captured video or still images, recorded audio, received video or still images, and mail, as well as decoded data, and slot ex464 which is an interface for SIM ex468 for authorizing access to a network and various data. Note that external memory may be used instead of memory ex467.

Moreover, main controller ex460 which comprehensively controls display ex458 and user interface ex466, power supply circuit ex461, user interface input controller ex462, video signal processor ex455, camera interface ex463, display controller ex459, modulator/demodulator ex452, multiplexer/demultiplexer ex453, audio signal processor ex454, slot ex464, and memory ex467 are connected via bus ex470.

When the user turns the power button of power supply circuit ex461 on, smartphone ex115 is powered on into an operable state by each component being supplied with power from a battery pack.

Smartphone ex115 performs processing for, for example, calling and data transmission, based on control performed by main controller ex460, which includes a CPU, ROM, and RAM. When making calls, an audio signal recorded by audio input unit ex456 is converted into a digital audio signal by audio signal processor ex454, and this is applied with spread spectrum processing by modulator/demodulator ex452 and digital-analog conversion and frequency conversion processing by transmitter/receiver ex451, and then transmitted via antenna ex450. The received data is amplified, frequency converted, and analog-digital converted, inverse spread spectrum processed by modulator/demodulator ex452, converted into an analog audio signal by audio signal processor ex454, and then output from audio output unit ex457. In data transmission mode, text, still-image, or video data is transmitted by main controller ex460 via user interface input controller ex462 as a result of operation of, for example, user interface ex466 of the main body, and similar transmission and reception processing is performed. In data transmission mode, when sending a video, still image, or video and audio, video signal processor ex455 compression encodes, via the moving picture encoding method described in the above embodiments, a video signal stored in memory ex467 or a video signal input from camera ex465, and transmits the encoded video data to multiplexer/demultiplexer ex453. Moreover, audio signal processor ex454 encodes an audio signal recorded by audio input unit ex456 while camera ex465 is capturing, for example, a video or still image, and transmits the encoded audio data to multiplexer/demultiplexer ex453. Multiplexer/demultiplexer ex453 multiplexes the encoded video data and encoded audio data using a predetermined scheme, modulates and converts the data using modulator/demodulator (modulator/demodulator circuit) ex452 and transmitter/receiver ex451, and transmits the result via antenna ex450.

When video appended in an email or a chat, or a video linked from a web page, for example, is received, in order to decode the multiplexed data received via antenna ex450, multiplexer/demultiplexer ex453 demultiplexes the multiplexed data to divide the multiplexed data into a bitstream of video data and a bitstream of audio data, supplies the encoded video data to video signal processor ex455 via synchronous bus ex470, and supplies the encoded audio data to audio signal processor ex454 via synchronous bus ex470. Video signal processor ex455 decodes the video signal using a moving picture decoding method corresponding to the moving picture encoding method described in the above embodiments, and video or a still image included in the linked moving picture file is displayed on display ex458 via display controller ex459. Moreover, audio signal processor ex454 decodes the audio signal and outputs audio from audio output unit ex457. Note that since real-time streaming is becoming more and more popular, there are instances in which reproduction of the audio may be socially inappropriate depending on the user's environment. Accordingly, as an initial value, a configuration in which only video data is reproduced, i.e., the audio signal is not reproduced, is preferable. Audio may be synchronized and reproduced only when an input, such as when the user clicks video data, is received.

Although smartphone ex115 was used in the above example, three implementations are conceivable: a transceiver terminal including both an encoder and a decoder; a transmitter terminal including only an encoder; and a receiver terminal including only a decoder. Further, in the description of the digital broadcasting system, an example is given in which multiplexed data obtained as a result of video data being multiplexed with, for example, audio data, is received or transmitted, but the multiplexed data may be video data multiplexed with data other than audio data, such as text data related to the video. Moreover, the video data itself rather than multiplexed data maybe received or transmitted.

Although main controller ex460 including a CPU is described as controlling the encoding or decoding processes, terminals often include GPUs. Accordingly, a configuration is acceptable in which a large area is processed at once by making use of the performance ability of the GPU via memory shared by the CPU and GPU or memory including an address that is managed so as to allow common usage by the CPU and GPU. This makes it possible to shorten encoding time, maintain the real-time nature of the stream, and reduce delay. In particular, processing relating to motion estimation, deblocking filtering, sample adaptive offset (SAO), and transformation/quantization can be effectively carried out by the GPU instead of the CPU in units of, for example pictures, all at once.

Although only some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure is applicable to, for example, television receivers, digital video recorders, car navigation systems, mobile phones, digital cameras, and digital video cameras. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An encoder that encodes a current block in a picture, the encoder comprising: circuitry; and memory, wherein using the memory, the circuitry: splits the current block into a first sub block, a second sub block, and a third sub block in a first direction, the second sub block being located between the first sub block and the third sub block; prohibits splitting the second sub block into two partitions in the first direction; and encodes the first sub block, the second sub block, and the third sub block.
 2. The encoder according to claim 1, wherein when the second sub block is to be split into a plurality of partitions, the circuitry further: writes, into a bitstream, a first parameter indicating a direction in which the second sub block is to be split; splits the second sub block into three partitions in the first direction when the first parameter indicates the first direction; and when the first parameter indicates a second direction different from the first direction, (i) writes, into the bitstream, a second parameter indicating the number of partitions into which the second sub block is to be split, and (ii) splits, in the second direction, the second sub block into as many partitions as the number indicated by the second parameter.
 3. An encoding method for encoding a current block in a picture, the encoding method comprising: splitting the current block into a first sub block, a second sub block, and a third sub block in a first direction, the second sub block being located between the first sub block and the third sub block; prohibiting splitting the second sub block into two partitions in the first direction; and encoding the first sub block, the second sub block, and the third sub block.
 4. A decoder that decodes a current block in an encoded picture, the decoder comprising: circuitry; and memory, wherein using the memory, the circuitry: splits the current block into a first sub block, a second sub block, and a third sub block in a first direction, the second sub block being located between the first sub block and the third sub block; prohibits splitting the second sub block into two partitions in the first direction; and decodes the first sub block, the second sub block, and the third sub block.
 5. The decoder according to claim 4, wherein the circuitry further: parses, from a bitstream, a first parameter indicating a direction in which the second sub block is to be split; splits the second sub block into three partitions in the first direction when the first parameter indicates the first direction; and when the first parameter indicates a second direction different from the first direction, (i) parses, from the bitstream, a second parameter indicating the number of partitions into which the second sub block is to be split, and (ii) splits, in the second direction, the second sub block into as many partitions as the number indicated by the second parameter.
 6. A decoding method for decoding a current block in an encoded picture, the decoding method comprising: splitting the current block into a first sub block, a second sub block, and a third sub block in a first direction, the second sub block being located between the first sub block and the third sub block; prohibiting splitting the second sub block into two partitions in the first direction; and decoding the first sub block, the second sub block, and the third sub block. 